On Wednesday, Anthony Davis went up against the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time since his trade to the Dallas Mavericks. The two teams previously met on February 25. However, Davis missed the game due to an injury. In the loss, Davis recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and a block. After the game, Davis revealed the message he sent to Luka Doncic, the player he was traded for.
“Both of us were caught off [guard], surprised by [the trade],” Davis said. “But that was two months ago. It happened. There’s nothing we can do about it now. Just told him, ‘Good game.’ He played a hell of a game. Just a respect thing.”
Anthony Davis Reveals Luka Doncic Message After Lakers Game
The Lakers Never Pursued Anthony Davis Trade?
Though the Lakers shipped Davis out to Dallas, the team reportedly did not plan on doing so. In February, Lakers President Jeanie Buss made it clear that they “were not looking to move” Davis. However, it ultimately happened as part of the deal that landed them Doncic.
“You know, in my position, there are certain players in the league that you think, ‘There’s no way I’ll ever have that player on my team.’ It’s just impossible. Unless you draft a star like that, they usually don’t move. When the opportunity came up, we were not looking to move Anthony Davis. He was our rock-solid player, and so we had to give up a lot to get Luka… I look back, and the last time I saw Kobe alive was about a month before he passed. He had brought Gigi to a Lakers game to see Luka play because Luka was Gigi’s favorite player. The idea that Luka is now a Laker—I know how happy that would make Kobe and Gigi.”
Furthermore, following the Davis trade, many speculated whether Lakers star LeBron James was aware it would happen. However, in an interview with Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, Davis made it clear that he and James are close regardless.
“People are saying that [James] knew [of the trade] because of the Marcus Morris [quote saying James knew] that comes out. [James] is saying he don’t. At this point, whether he knew or not or whoever knew, or it was quiet when [ESPN’s] Shams (Charana) dropped [the news], it doesn’t matter who knew. This s- happened. You can’t change like, ‘Oh, [James] didn’t know, well let’s change it’ It’s no going back. But as far as our leadership, obviously, we were on the same team, so we talked all the time. But [the Lakers! are trying to make a push, we’re trying to make a push, so we don’t talk as much. But we still check in on each other. He texts me all the time. [James’ chief of staff] Randy [Mims] hit me. Actually, they both just hit me. Vando [Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt] did. We still talk to those guys. I’ve been with [James] the longest, six-and-a-half years. We’ve been really close, but nothing has changed.”
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